Mrs. Joe Anna Mosley Campbell Rooks, died January 3, 2013. She was born in Jeff Davis County on Feb. 13, 1924 to the late Samuel Mosley and the late Celia Brookins Mosley. She was educated at the Appling County School System, graduating with honors. She continued her education earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Education from Savannah State College with honors. Joe Anna became the parent of her first born child, Celia, in 1947. She married Lee Campbell who preceded her in death. She was blessed to marry again; to this union with Donald Rooks, she was blessed with the birth of her second child, Edward O’Neal Rooks. The two loves of her life were her children, Celia and Edward.

She began her teaching career in Toombs County at the Oak Grove School. Oak Grove was a one-room school where all of the African American children in the community were taught. She boarded with John Junior and Johnnie Mae Dasher while teaching in Toombs County. In time, she became employed in the Appling County School System. Mrs. Rooks retired from teaching after 30 years. She became a member of the Retired Teachers Association and served on numerous committees. Mrs. Rooks held membership in the NAACP, the Progressive Resource Center and the Women’s Flower Club to name a few.
Joe Anna was a faithful member of the Thankful New Jersey Missionary Baptist Church. She served in various capacities there – BTU president, church announcer, vice president of the senior mission, Sunday school and Vacation Bible schoolteacher, preparer of the church bulletin board, and play and skit writer for programs.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 from Thankful New Jersey Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. B. J. Virgil officiating and Minister Starling Byrd presiding. Interment followed in St. Matthews A.M.E. Church Cemetery in Hazlehurst.

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